Queen Elizabeth II thanks public after husband's death, as she turns 95

Prince Harry, pictured with his brother Prince William at Saturday's funeral

Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday thanked well-wishers for their messages of support after the death of her husband, Prince Philip, as she turned 95 and spent her first birthday without him in more than seven decades.

"My family and I would like to thank you all for the support and kindness shown to us in recent days," she said in her first public comments since his death on April 9 aged 99.

The Queen -- Britain's longest-reigning monarch -- said the messages from Britain, the Commonwealth and around the world had been a "comfort" during a "period of great sadness".

The Queen, seen at the funeral for the first time since his death, cut a solitary figure due to coronavirus restrictions, sitting alone in mourning black, with a white-trimmed, black face mask.

With the ongoing restrictions curtailing socialising, her birthday -- typically marked with a traditional gun salute and the release of a new portrait -- will be subdued this year.

In the Buckingham Palace statement, however, she said: "I have, on the occasion of my 95th birthday today, received many messages of good wishes, which I very much appreciate."

"This is going to be a private day for her and that's how it should be," said Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty Magazine.

"There's the public queen and there's the private queen, and she's great at being able to compartmentalise."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted "warm wishes" to the monarch. 

"I am proud to serve as her Prime Minister," he wrote.

She has previously described him as her "strength and stay" during seven decades of almost constant presence at her side.

The Queen and Philip's grandson Prince Harry, 36, flew back from the United States for the funeral, but returned home again to be with his pregnant wife Meghan before his grandmother's birthday, according to The Sun.

He reportedly spent several hours with his father and heir to the throne Prince Charles, and elder brother Prince William following the ceremony, prompting speculation that any enduring rift is being healed.

It is marked with an annual military parade, known as "Trooping the Colour", but has been cancelled for a second consecutive year due to the pandemic.

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